1 Introduction 2 Building Social Europe 3 Workshop Discussion 4 Plenary 5 The Fight Against Poverty & Social Exclusion in the EU2020 Agenda (panel debate) X. Appendices Executive Summary / Key Messages The following key messages were highlighted: The European Union is at a turning point. The instability caused by the current crisis, including the long-term threat of cuts to our public services and social protection systems, is confirming ordinary people’s distrust in the EU as a Union which continues to act in the interests of the market with a growth-first model, rather than giving priority to building a fairer, more cohesive society which can deliver prosperity for all. The failure of the European Union to deliver on its commitments in 2000 “to make a decisive impact on the eradication on poverty”, even during a period of high economic and employment growth, with an increase in the number of people living at risk of poverty rising from 16 to 17% from 2000 to 2008 (85 million people), matched with increasing inequality, further confirms the need for a stronger social and anti-poverty pillar in the future EU strategy (Europe 2020). The crisis raises severe challenges for the EU, but also provides an opportunity to shape a new vision for the EU and its role in the world. This new vision needs to give priority to tackling poverty and social exclusion both within and outside the EU, challenge the assumptions of ever-increasing growth and invest in a more social and sustainable model which puts the economy at the service of people and the planet and aims to deliver on global equity. Real progress also depends on concerted measures to reduce inequalities between people and regions – of income and wealth, but also access to resources, services and decision-making, recognizing that more equal societies do better for everybody. 2010, the EU Year for combating poverty and social exclusion must be seized as a key opportunity. The many national activities being carried out by EAPN and other actors across the EU are vital to raise awareness about the reality of poverty, its causes and consequences, but this must also lead to an effective political legacy – a renewed political commitment and strategy at EU and national level, to tackle poverty and social exclusion, embed participation and promote a better life for all. Such a legacy depends on getting the Europe 2020 strategy right. In EAPN’s view this means – getting the strategy, the instruments and the policies right as well as the funding and governance structures. Getting the strategy right means identifying poverty, social exclusion and inequalities as key challenges. The instruments must include a high level declaration by Heads of State, a new instrument to measure progress beyond GDP and a strengthened Social Open Method of Coordination, with poverty targets and better governance. The policy priorities must focus on ensuring access to rights, resources and services including implementing Active Inclusion, making progress towards a framework directive to ensure an adequate minimum income, and to guarantee access to affordable, quality services including social services – such as health, housing and education through a framework directive. The commitments on child poverty and homelessness must also be followed up, as well as mainstreaming equality and discrimination in anti-poverty policies. Better governance is vital, with civil society and people in poverty made partners in the national and EU decision-making process. On funding, a new poverty programme, as well as targeted use of Structural funds for social inclusion, is needed which can support capacity building and participation of NGOs and people in poverty, but also the development of grass-roots demonstration projects to support new approaches to fight poverty at local and regional levels. The Europe 2020 proposals made by the Commission were broadly welcomed by the conference, particularly the proposal of including an EU poverty target – for 25% reduction in the at-risk of poverty level (60% median income) as one of the 5 priority EU targets, establishing a specific poverty and social inclusion guideline and a new EU Flagship Platform against poverty and social exclusion based on the Social OMC, with financing from Structural Funds. However, the conference was concerned about how far growth and jobs would remain the main paradigm, with assumptions that any job provided the best way out of poverty, despite the growing levels of in-work poverty. It underlined the need to emphasize fundamental, social and economic rights and to ensure that social inclusion and action against discrimination was mainstreamed as an objective across the whole strategy – particularly in relation to macro and micro-economic policy and the need to defend social protection systems and public services. The development of new EU instruments were strongly supported to defend and guarantee key social rights and establish social standards, particularly access to minimum income and services, (framework directives) and decent work as part of integrated Active Inclusion approaches, as well as an endorsement of the anti-discrimination directive with positive duties. Increased civil dialogue was seen as key to building ownership of Europe 2020 and increasing credibility of the EU, but only if it moves beyond ‘consultation’ to partnership approaches to ensure better anti-poverty policies and implementation. The governance mechanisms of the Social OMC are a vital good practice, but need to be strengthened and driven by active national stakeholder partnership in National Action Plans, including NGOs and people in poverty. Targeted use of Structural Funds and PROGRESS to support these mechanisms will be vital. Workshop 1 Achieving an adequate income for all and a reduction in inequalities. Workshop 2 Right to affordable, quality services. Workshop 3 Measures to support people into decent jobs. Workshop 4 Fighting Poverty by combating discrimination and promoting diversity. Workshop 5 Gender in the fight against Poverty. Workshop 1 Achieving an adequate income for all and a reduction in inequalities. Proposals: There is a need for greater cooperation to develop EU Social Standards. A Directive on Adequate Minimum Income should be a first step in this direction. However this will need to be implemented through local action. Changing perceptions – use evidence and embed participative standard budget methodologies across the EU for calculating and upgrading a standard for a decent life. Build solidarity – between workers and the unemployed, link living wage campaigns to adequate income and universal services to benefit all. Workshop 2 Right to affordable, quality services. Proposals: Build an agreed, broad and evolving definition of public services. Set up EU legislation that guarantees the rights to universal services within a quality standard framework which meets the needs of all users regardless of their citizenship. An EU and national structure linked to a strengthened OMC to ensure implementation and monitoring impact of the EU legislation including a special unit within DG market which allows users to participate in the design and implementation of services and evaluation of their impact. Workshop 3 Measures to support people into decent jobs. Proposals: Make the implementation of the Active Inclusion principles an overarching framework for the targeted use of Structural Funds. Reshape the National Reform Programmes so that they include real National Employment Strategies, with quantified targets for sustainable job creation, inclusive labour markets, and quality jobs. Support an integrated quality of life approach – giving equal weight to support for accessing decent employment and the right to private life and care. Workshop 4 Fighting Poverty by combating discrimination and promoting diversity. Underpinned by principles of participation at all levels and an analysis of structural versus an individual nature of problems/issues faced. Proposals: Legislation: EU horizontal directive with positive duties, further focus on social economic rights. Policy making: single template for discrimination and poverty proofing post Lisbon e.g. OMC, EU 2020, Stockholm programme, Roma & Traveler initiatives and also accession to ECHR. Implementation: targeted resources by governments and the EU, in conjunction with resources for NGOs. Workshop 5 Gender in the fight against Poverty. Proposals: Equal participation of men and women in decision making will assist in more balanced policy making. Combating violence is enshrined in both the European Charter for Human Rights and the European Treaty and in that context violence should be taken more seriously as a policy issue in the EU. EU Directives on minimum income and access to universal quality affordable services could improve the situation of women in poverty. 1. Introduction The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) organised an international conference in Dublin to further its vision for the legacy of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, in the context of the EU’s priorities for the next decade. The objective of this conference was to present concrete proposals for building a social Europe with the capacity to end poverty and social exclusion, and make a real difference to the 85 million Europeans who live everyday at risk of poverty. The conference set out to: 1. Take stock of the European Union’s contribution to ending poverty and social exclusion. 2. Take forward EAPN’s proposals for improving the social dimension of the EU 2020 strategy. 3. Provide an opportunity for a range of stakeholders, including people experiencing poverty, to input on how the legacy of the Year should be realised. EAPN’s proposals on the EU 2020 strategy: An EU We Can Trust formed a background to this debate. Opening the conference, Minister Mary Hanafin, T.D., Minister for Social and Family Affairs stated that bringing about an end to poverty and building a society for all are the goals that countries right across the European Union have decided will be the focus of national attention for the year.